munchkin
UK[ˈmʌntʃkɪn]US[ˈmʌntʃkɪn]
n
A very small or young child, especially one considered to be cute or endearing.
n
A person who is small in stature.
n
(in the fantasy world of Oz) A member of a race of very small, industrious people.
Etymology
The word 'munchkin' is a 20th-century invention by American author L. Frank Baum for his 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, where it named the small, childlike inhabitants of the fictional Munchkin Country. The name was likely crafted for its whimsical, playful sound, possibly influenced by the German dialect word 'Münchner' (a native of Munich) or simply as a nonsense term. From its origin as a fictional race, the term evolved in general English to describe any small person, particularly a young child, transferring the literal smallness of the fantasy creatures into a metaphorical and affectionate label.
Analysis
This word is a modern English coinage and does not break down into productive morphemes based on its current spelling. It is a proper noun from literature that entered common usage.
Examples
The park was filled with laughing munchkins playing on the swings.
He was the team's munchkin, but he played with more heart than anyone.
The storybook featured adorable munchkins living in tiny mushroom houses.